Mythstakes: Can You Overuse Essential Oils?

Do you use an essential oil so often that you’re afraid your body will develop a tolerance to that oil? Is “oil memory” a thing? It’s a question Edens Garden gets asked frequently.

Essential oils are powerful substances which should be treated with the same respect as medications. With that said, just as you can develop a higher tolerance to frequent drug and alcohol use, you can develop a tolerance to EOs. This is dependent on how much oil you use and how frequently you use it.

Using copious amounts of EO may put you at risk of being over-exposed to that oil, and the oil will thus lose its effectiveness. How will you know that you’ve been over-exposed? You likely will experience a weaker effect from that particular oil, or no effect at all. If this happens, it’s best to stop using that particular oil for a period of time.

Avoiding overuse altogether is achievable by alternating EOs, properly diluting and diffusing for 30-60 minutes at a time. The bottom line: when it comes to essential oils, a little goes a long way.